Abstract: An atmospheric pressure (AP) interface for a spectrometer includes wall for separating an ionization chamber from a reduced-pressure region of the spectrometer, an ion inlet defining an ion path from the ionization chamber to the reduced-pressure region, and a passage defining a gas path from the ionization chamber to a gas outlet external to the reduced-pressure region. The passage may have a greater gas conductance than the ion inlet such that most gas into the passage and not the ion inlet. The interface device is configured for applying a static electric field effective for focusing ions in the ionization chamber preferentially into the ion inlet.

Abstract: The present disclosure discusses a system and method for continuous operation of an ion trap mass spectrometer. The described system does not introduce ions into the ion trap in distinct trapping phase, rather the described system continuously injects ions into the ion trap while continuously scanning out the ions. The system and method described herein achieves a much higher duty cycle and cycle rate when compared to standard mass spectrometer devices.

Abstract: A mass or mass to charge ratio selective ion trap is disclosed having an increased charge storage capacity. A RF voltage acts to confine ions in a first (y) direction within the ion trap. A DC voltage and/or an RF voltage acts to confine ions in a second (x) direction within the ion trap. A quadratic DC potential well acts to confine ions in a third (z) direction within the ion trap. Ions are excited in the third (z) direction and are caused to be mass or mass to charge ratio selectively ejected in the third (z) direction.

Abstract: The geometry of a Kingdon ion trap, in which harmonic ion oscillation in a potential well in a longitudinal direction is completely decoupled from ion oscillation in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, is arranged so that the oscillating ions introduced through the entrance tube cannot return to the entrance tube until they have performed several longitudinal oscillations during which time heavier ions can be introduced into the trap. In one embodiment, ions enter the trap via an entrance tube extending through, but electrically insulated from, one of the Kingdon trap housing electrodes and located outside the minimum of the potential well in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer system is disclosed. The mass spectrometer includes a vacuum chamber defining an enclosed evacuated space and an ion trap disposed in the enclosed space. The ion trap is configured to trap an ionized sample. The mass spectrometer further includes an ion detector coupled to the chamber at a location external to the chamber such that sample ions may exit the evacuated space and into the externally-coupled detector without loss of vacuum pressure.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein an ion signal is split into a first and second signal. The first and second signals are multiplied by different gains and are digitized. Arrival time and intensity pairs are calculated for both digitized signals and the resulting time and intensity pairs are combined to form a high dynamic range spectrum. The spectrum is then combined with other corresponding spectra to form a summed spectrum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tandem mass spectrometry is disclosed. Precursor ions are fragmented and the fragments are accumulated in parallel, by converting an incoming stream of ions from an ion source (10) into a time separated sequence of multiple precursor ions which are then assigned to their own particular channel of a multi compartment collision cell (40). In this manner, precursor ion species, being allocated to their own dedicated fragmentation cell chambers (41, 42 . . . 43) within the fragmentation cell (40), can then be captured and fragmented by that dedicated fragmentation chamber at optimum energy and/or fragmentation conditions.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for sample analysis. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing a sample that includes a probe including a material connected to a high voltage source, a device for generating a heated gas, and a mass analyzer.

Abstract: A method of ion mobility spectrometry comprising: (i) introducing a packet of ions into a drift space; (ii) passing the ions through the drift space wherein the ions separate according to their ion mobility; and (iii) reflecting or deflecting the ions that have passed through the drift space back into the drift space wherein the ions can further separate according to their ion mobility. The reflecting or deflecting takes place in a region at lower pressure than the drift space. The drift space may be re-used multiple times to extend the separation path length. The regions of low pressure preferably allow inertial ion motion wherein the mean free path between ion collisions with gas is significantly longer than in the stages of ion mobility separation. The low pressure reflecting or deflecting region enables a time of flight focusing of ions to be provided without ion mobility separation occurring therein.

Abstract: An ion trap is disclosed comprising a plurality of elongate electrodes aligned with one another and with a central longitudinal axis along respective longitudinal axes and that are spaced apart from one another and disposed about a central longitudinal axis to form a quadrupole. The ion trap further comprises an elongate electrode that is aligned with and disposed along the central longitudinal axis, and circuitry coupled to the outer electrodes is suitable for driving the central and outer electrodes to selectively trap of ions within a region defined between the central electrode and the outer.

Abstract: A method of operating a tandem mass spectrometer system is disclosed including accumulating ions in an ion trap, transmitting a plurality of ions out of the ion trap into a timed-ion selector, applying a pulsed DC voltage to the timed-ion selector, the pulsed DC voltage being modulated to match an ejection time for selecting a first portion of ions from the plurality of ions, corresponding to a specific m/z window, transmitting the first portion of selected ions out of the timed-ion selector into a reaction cell, transmitting dissociation product ions and the remaining ions of the first portion of selected ions out of the reaction cell into a mass analyzer, and mass-selectively transmitting at least some of the fragment ions and the remaining ions of the first portion of selected ions out of the mass analyzer into a detector.

Abstract: A method of searching for potentially unknown metabolites of pharmaceutical compounds is disclosed. The accurate mass of a pharmaceutical compound will generally be known and can be rendered in the form of an integer nominal mass or mass to charge ratio component and a decimal mass or mass to charge ratio component. Possible metabolites are searched for on the basis of having a decimal mass or mass to charge ratio component which is substantially very similar to the decimal mass or mass to charge ratio of the parent pharmaceutical compound.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry method of the present invention is such that a sample is heated to generate a gas and an ion that is produced from the gas is introduced into a mass spectrometer by using DART so that mass spectrometry is conducted.

Abstract: A method for identifying ions that generated mass spectral data, comprises acquiring raw mass spectral data in profile mode containing at least one ion of interest; performing at least one of mass spectral calibration involving peak shape and a determination of actual peak shape function associated with the acquired raw mass spectral data; considering at least one possible elemental composition of the ion; calculating theoretical mass spectral data for said elemental composition using the actual peak shape function; performing a normalization between corresponding parts of the theoretical mass spectral data and that of the raw or calibrated mass spectral data; and displaying mass spectral congruence between at least two mass spectra where one spectrum is the normalized version of the other corresponding to said possible elemental composition. The unique display and method assist in readily identifying ions.

Abstract: After a first injection of a sample, amount of change between a highest intensity and each of two ion intensities before and after a voltage showing the highest intensity is calculated for each CE voltage. If the change is equal to or less than a threshold the CE voltage showing the highest intensity in the coarse control mode is selected as the optimal value, without performing a measurement in a fine control mode. If the change in the ion intensity exceeds the threshold, a narrower CE-voltage range and a smaller step size are determined from the measurement result obtained for the first injection of the sample, and after a second injection of the sample, the ion intensity is measured while the CE voltage is varied in the fine control mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving ion mobility spectrometry by using a fast and spatially wide ion gate based on local RF field barrier opposed to a switching DC field. The improvement accelerates the ion mobility analysis and improves charge throughput and dynamic range of the IMS. The invention is particularly suited for rapid dual gas chromatography. In one important embodiment, the accelerated IMS is coupled to a multi-reflecting time-of-flight mass spectrometer with a fast encoded orthogonal acceleration. There are described methods of comprehensive and orthogonal separation in multiple analytical dimensions.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing ions in a multipole ion trap, comprising generating RF radial confinement fields within a first and second multipole rod set positioned in tandem, a ratio of q value exhibited by the second rod set relative to the first rod set being greater than one for any m/z, said RF axial confinement fields within the first and second rod sets interacting in an interaction region between the first and second rod sets so as to produce a fringing field; transmitting ions through said first rod set towards said second rod set; and increasing the radial oscillation amplitude of at least a portion of the ions within said first rod set such that at least a portion of said ions having an increased radial oscillation amplitude are repulsed by said fringing field.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a mass spectrometer capable of performing OzID is disclosed that can provide ozone in situ within an evacuated chamber of the spectrometer, e.g., within a collision cell or within the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer. In some embodiments, a corona discharge generated within the evacuated chamber can be employed to convert an ozone precursor delivered to the chamber into ozone.

Abstract: A detector in a residual gas analyzer (RGA) is configured to receive ions traveling in a downstream direction along a beamline and includes a steering electrode offset from the beamline. A first ion-receiving electrode is at least partly on the opposite side of the steering electrode from the beamline. A second ion-receiving electrode is at least partly offset from the beamline, at least partly across the beamline from at least a portion of the steering electrode, and at least partially upstream of at least a portion of the steering electrode. A shielding electrode is arranged at least partly between the beamline and the second ion-receiving electrode. A source applies a potential to the shielding electrode. A residual gas analyzer (RGA) includes an ion source, an analyzer, and such a detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices and methods for the storage of ions in mass spectrometers. The invention proposes the generation and superposition of two multipole fields of different order, independent of each other, in an RF multipole rod system. In an embodiment with eight pole rods, for example, it is thus possible to jointly store low-energy electrons in a central RF quadrupole field, which effectively acts only on electrons and holds them together radially, on the one hand, and multiply charged heavy positive ions in an RF octopole field, which effectively acts only on the ions, on the other hand, in order to fragment the positive ions by electron capture dissociation (ECD).

Abstract: An elemental flow cytometer includes a device to vaporize, atomize, and ionize material and an introduction system for introducing packets of discrete entities into said device to vaporize, atomize and ionize materials to vaporize, atomize and ionize the entities in the packets. A spectrometer is adapted to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized and excited or ionized packets.

Abstract: A gas mixture method for generating an ion beam is provided here. By dynamically tuning the mixture ratio of the gas mixture, lifetime of the ion source of an ion implanter can be prolonged. Accordingly, quality of ion beam can be maintained and maintenance fee is reduced.

Abstract: Ions are introduced into a Kingdon ion trap in which the ions can oscillate harmonically in a potential well in the longitudinal direction, essentially decoupled from their transverse motion by a Kingdon ion guide, which can consist of a drill-hole through the wall of the ion trap housing electrodes and a central wire. An injection potential is first applied to the wire, but once the heaviest ions of interest have been injected into the trap, the potential of the wire is switched to the potential of the housing electrodes, to trap the ions in the trap. The ions introduced into the Kingdon ion trap may come from a small ion cloud, located in a Paul trap.

Abstract: Looped ionization sources for ion mobility spectrometers are described. The ionization sources can be used to ionize molecules from a sample of interest in order to identify the molecules based on the ions. In an implementation, an electrical ionization source includes a wire that is looped between electrical contacts. The wire is used to form a corona responsive to application of voltage between the wire and the walls of an ionization chamber. The corona can form when a sufficient voltage is applied between the wire and the walls. A difference in electrical potential between the wire and a wall forming an ionization chamber, in which wire is contained, can be used to draw the ions away from the wire. In embodiments, the wire can be heated to reduce the voltage used to strike the corona. The ions, subsequently, may ionize the molecules from the sample of interest. The looped corona source can also be used in mass spectrometers (MS).

Abstract: A RF only quadrupole rod set mass filter or mass analyzer and a linear quadrupole ion trap with axial ejection are disclosed comprising a first pair of rod electrodes, a second pair of rod electrodes and an energy filter. The first pair of rod electrodes is longer than the second pair of rod electrodes. Ions having desired mass to charge ratios experience fringing fields at an exit region which results in the ions possessing sufficient axial kinetic energy to be transmitted by the energy filter. Other ions possess insufficient axial kinetic energy to be transmitted by the energy filter and are attenuated.

Abstract: A method of tandem mass spectrometry is disclosed. A quasi-continuous stream of ions from an ion source (20) and having a relatively broad range of mass to charge ratio ions is segmented temporally into a plurality of segments. Each segment is subjected to an independently selected degree of fragmentation, so that, for example, some segments of the broad mass range are fragmented whilst others are not. The resultant ion population, containing both precursor and fragment ions, is analyzed in a single acquisition cycle using a high resolution mass analyser (150). The technique allows the analysis of the initial ion population to be optimized for analytical limitations.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing mass spectrometry of a nanoparticle or virus analyte. Apparatus may include a laser desorption plate, a mass analyzer configured to measure mass over the range of m/z from 105 to 1010, an electrical shield surrounding the mass analyzer, and a charge sensitive detector, wherein the laser firing is phase lock synchronized with the applied radiofrequency voltages.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed having a mass analyzer with a mass-to-charge dispersive element for separating ions according to their mass-to-charge ratios along a dispersive plane and an ion deflector to deflect ions leaving the mass analyzer in the dispersive plane. A shielding arrangement, located between the dispersive element and the ion deflector is arranged to define the portion of the beam to be deflected by the ion deflector. The deflected beam is steered onto a beam defining aperture, located at the focal plane of the mass analyzer is detected by at least one ion detector, located downstream from the beam defining aperture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of mass spectrometry, an apparatus adapted to perform the method and a mass spectrometer. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a method of mass spectrometry comprising the step of associating parent and fragmentation ions from a sample by measuring the parent and fragmentation ions from two or more different areas of the sample and identifying changes in the number of parent ions between the areas in the sample, and corresponding changes in the number of fragmentation ions between the two areas.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry method for analyzing isobarically-labeled analyte compounds comprising (a) ionizing compounds including the isobarically-labeled analyte compounds to generate a plurality of precursor ion species comprising different respective m/z ratios, (b) isolating a precursor ion species, (c) fragmenting the precursor ion species to generate a plurality of first-generation fragment ion species comprising different respective m/z ratios, and (d) selecting and co-isolating two or more of the first-generation product-ion species, the method characterized by: (e) fragmenting all of the selected and isolated first-generation product ion species so as to generate a plurality of second-generation fragment ion species including released label ions; (f) generating a mass spectrum of the second-generation fragment ion species; and (g) generating quantitative information relating to at least one analyte compound based on peaks of the mass spectrum attributable to the released label ions.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an on trap and a fragmentation device. Ions are fragmented in the on trap to form first generation fragment ions. The ion trap has a relatively high mass cut-off. The first generation fragment ions are then transferred to a fragmentation device which is arranged to have a substantially lower low mass cut-off. The first generation fragment ions are fragmented within the fragmentation device any may optionally be stored in an ion accumulation region prior to being passed to a mass analyser for subsequent mass analysis.

Abstract: A molecular weight is determined from an actually measured mass spectrum of a target substance, and a database search is performed to extract candidates of a chemical structural formula corresponding to the molecular weight (S2, S3). By using an algorithm for predicting a dissociation pattern, product ions to be produced by a dissociating operation are predicted for each candidate of the chemical structural formula (S4). The predicted pattern of the product ions is compared with an actually measured MS2 spectrum, and a degree of similarity representing the degree of matching of the pattern is calculated (S5). When there are a plurality of candidates of the chemical structural formula, the candidates are displayed in order of their degrees of similarity (S6).

Abstract: An ion spectrometer is provided, comprising: an ion source, arranged to generate ions continuously with a first range of mass to charge ratios; and an ion trap, arranged to receive ions from the ion source along an axis, and to eject ions with a second range of mass to charge ratios orthogonally to that axis, the second range of mass to charge ratios being narrower than the first range of mass to charge ratios. In some embodiments, ions generated by the ion source continuously flow into the ion trap. Additionally or alternatively, ion optics receive ions ejected from the ion trap and cool the ions without substantial fragmentation. An ion analyser receives ions ejected from the ion trap or ion optics and separates the ions in accordance with at least one characteristic of the ions.

Abstract: A system for electro-hydrodynamically extracting energy from wind includes an upstream collector that is biased at an electric potential and induces an electric field. An injector introduces a particle into the electric field. The wind drag on the particle is at least partially opposed by a force of the electric field on the particle. A sensor monitors an ambient atmospheric condition, and a controller changes a parameter of the injector in response to a change in the atmospheric condition.

Abstract: A miniature electrode apparatus is disclosed for trapping charged particles, the apparatus including, along a longitudinal direction: a first end cap electrode; a central electrode having an aperture; and a second end cap electrode. The aperture is elongated in the lateral plane and extends through the central electrode along the longitudinal direction and the central electrode surrounds the aperture in a lateral plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to define a transverse cavity for trapping charged particles.

Abstract: An ion detector system for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion detector comprising an array of detector elements. The ion detector system is arranged to correct for tilt and non-linear aberrations in an isochronous plane of ions. The ion detector system generates separate first mass spectral data sets for each detector element and then applies a calibration coefficient to each of the first mass spectral data sets to produce a plurality of second calibrated mass spectral data sets. The plurality of second calibrated mass spectral data sets are then combined to form a composite mass spectral data set.

Abstract: A method and device for separating ions according to their ion mobility are disclosed. An ion guide is provided having a plurality of electrodes arranged to form an ion guiding path that extends in a closed loop. RF voltages are supplied to at least some of the electrodes in order to confine ions within said ion guiding path. A DC voltage gradient is maintained along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of said ion guide, wherein the voltage gradient urges ions along the ion guide such that the ions separate according to their ion mobility as the ions pass along the ion guide. As time progresses the portion of the ion guide along which the DC voltage gradient is maintained is moved along the ion guide. An ion exit region is provided which moves around said ion guide such that ions exit said ion guide at different locations at different times.

Abstract: An ion trap includes a containment region for containing ions, and a plurality of electrodes positioned on a regular polyhedral structure encompassing the containment region. An electrode is positioned on each vertex of the encompassing structure and at least one of the polygonal surfaces includes additional electrodes configured to form a plurality of quadrupoles on the surface. Alternating RF voltage is applied to the plurality of electrodes, so that directly neighboring electrodes are of equal amplitude and opposite polarity at any point in time. This configuration on the polyhedral structure forms a potential barrier for repelling the ions from each of the regular polygonal surfaces and containing them in the trap. Mass selective filters can be formed from the quadrupoles for parallel mass analysis in different m/z windows. Application of a small DC potential to a plate electrode outside the quadrupoles preferentially depletes single charged ions for enhanced signal-to-noise analysis.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting constituents in a sample includes a casing and an ionization chamber defined by the casing. The apparatus also includes an ion collector positioned downstream of the ionization chamber. The apparatus further includes a spectral analysis device coupled to the ion collector. The spectral analysis device is configured to generate a detection spectrum representative of ions collected at the ion collector. The detection spectrum includes an analyte peak portion and a peak tailing portion. The apparatus also includes a control system that is configured to generate a first pulse having a first polarity to initiate a discharge of stored ions from the ionization chamber. The control system is also configured to generate a second pulse substantially immediately after the first pulse. The second pulse has a second polarity opposite the first polarity and is configured to reduce the peak tailing portion.

Abstract: An ion trap is provided between a collision cell and a time-of-flight mass separator. During a time period in which precursor ions derived from the same compound are selected with a quadrupole mass filter, a collision energy is changed from one to another. Various product ions that are produced by dissociation respectively under collision energies of the plurality of stages and precursor ions that are not dissociated are temporarily trapped in the ion trap, and are ejected in a packet form in the state where these ions are mixed, and are introduced into the time-of-flight mass separator 6 to be subjected to a mass spectrometry. Thereby, in a data processing unit, one MS/MS spectrum in which product ions produced in various dissociation modes under various CID conditions appear is created.

Abstract: A method for mass analyzing ions comprising a restricted range mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios comprising performing a survey mass analysis using a mass analyzer to measure a flux of ions having m/z ratios within said restricted range and performing a dependent mass analysis of an optimal quantity of ions having m/z ratios within said restricted range, said optimal quantity collected for a time period determined by the measured ion flux, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT: the time period is determined using a corrected ion flux that accounts for one or more of: (a) imperfect restriction of collected ions to the range of m/z ratios, (b) inclusion of ions within the range of m/z ratios that are undetected by the survey mass analysis, (c) different mass analyzers used for the dependent and survey mass analyses, and (d) different ion pathways used during dependent and the survey mass analyses.

Abstract: Ion guides for use in mass spectrometry (MS) systems are described. The ion guides are configured to provide a reflective electrodynamic field and a direct current (DC or static) electric field to provide ion beams that are more spatially confined with a comparatively large mass range.

Abstract: In an MS unit, both an intensity of an ion having the highest intensity among the ions originating from a compound as the target of quantitative determination and an intensity of an isotopic ion are measured. A saturation detector determines whether or not digital data produced by an A/D converter from ion-intensity signals have reached a saturation level. A data selection controller selects the ion-intensity data showing the highest intensity when the signal is not saturated or the intensity data of the isotopic ion when the saturation has occurred or is probable to occur. When the latter data is selected, an ion intensity converter converts the intensity data into values corresponding to the intensity data of the highest-intensity ion by multiplying the intensity data by a factor calculated from a known isotopic abundance ratio.

Abstract: A mass or mass to charge ratio selective ion trap is disclosed having an increased charge storage capacity. A RF voltage acts to confine ions in a first (y) direction within the ion trap. A DC voltage and/or an RF voltage acts to confine ions in a second (x) direction within the ion trap. A quadratic DC potential well acts to confine ions in a third (z) direction within the ion trap. Ions are excited in the third (z) direction and are caused to be mass or mass to charge ratio selectively ejected in the third (z) direction.

Abstract: A tandem mass spectrometer includes a two-dimensional ion trap that has an elongated ion-trapping region extending along a continuously curving path between first and second opposite ends thereof. The elongated trapping region has a central axis that is defined substantially parallel to the curved path and that extends between the first and second opposite ends. The two-dimensional ion trap is configured for receiving ions through the first end and for mass selectively ejecting the ions along a direction that is orthogonal to the central axis, such that the ejected ions are directed generally toward a common point. The tandem mass spectrometer also includes a collision cell having an ion inlet that is disposed about the common point for receiving the ions that are ejected therefrom and for causing at least a portion of the ions to undergo collisions and form product ions by fragmentation.

Abstract: An ion transfer tube for a mass spectrometer comprises a core member and a first jacket tube member at least partially enclosing the core member and providing one or more channels therethrough. A method of forming an ion transfer tube, comprises: providing a first jacket tube member having a length and an internal bore, the internal bore passing along the length and defining an interior surface of circular cross section; removing at least one portion of the first jacket tube member adjacent to the interior surface so as to form at least one groove, channel, slot, recess or embayment of or in the interior surface; and providing a core member within the bore of the jacket tube member such that remnant portions of the interior surface of circular cross section mate against portions of an exterior surface of the core member.

Abstract: An ion guide or ion trap 1 is disclosed comprising a segmented linear ion guide or ion trap. Ions are confined radially within the ion guide or ion trap 1 by the application of an AC or RF voltage to the electrodes. Ions are trapped within an axial quadratic potential well which is oscillated or modulated axially so as to cause ions to be ejected from the ion guide or ion trap 1 in a substantially non-resonant manner.

Abstract: A method of improving the detection limits of a mass spectrometer by: generating sample ions from an ion source; storing the sample ions in a first ion storage device; ejecting the stored ions into an ion selection device; selecting and ejecting ions of a chosen mass to charge ratio out of the ion selection device; storing the ions ejected from the ion selection device in a second ion storage device without passing them back through the ion selection device; repeating the preceding steps so as to augment the ions of the said chosen mass to charge ratio stored in the second ion storage device; and transferring the augmented ions of the said chosen mass to charge ratio back to the first ion storage device for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: A mass analyzer comprises: an electrical field generator, providing a time-varying electric field for injection of ions to be analyzed, excitation of ions to be analyzed or both; first and second detection electrodes, each of which receives a respective voltage pickup due to the time-varying electric field and provides a respective detection signal based on a respective image current at the detection electrode; and a differential amplifier, providing an output based on the difference between the detection signal for the first detection electrode and the detection signal for the second detection electrode. It may also be provided that the electrical field generator comprises at least one field generating electrode without a spatially symmetrical counterpart and the capacitance between each field generating electrode and the first detection electrode is substantially the same as the capacitance between that field generating electrode and the second detection electrode.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes a first ion trap arranged upstream of an analytical second ion trap. The charge capacity of the first ion trap is set at a value such that if all the ions stored within the first ion trap up to the charge capacity limit of the first ion trap are then transferred to the second ion trap, then the analytical performance of the second ion trap is not substantially degraded due to space charge effects.